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Texas Legends

Billfish Tournament


Jungle Rules

August 7-11, 2024
Port Aransas Fisherman's Wharf

tournament Rules
  1. By entering this tournament, participants agree to abide by all rules and decisions. All committee decisions are final.

  2. Contestants are boats. There may not be any pooling of catch or transfer of catch from one boat to an other. In the event of a mechanical failure that disables a participant’s boat, a substitute boat may be used at the discretion of, and coordinated with, the tournament director. Any substitution must take place at the dock, not offshore.

  3. All boats must be registered and all fees paid before leaving their respective ports. A committee boat will be stationed in most ports to supervise boats leaving on Thursday August 8th, 2024. Boats may depart any time after 5pm.

  4. All boats are required to return to Port Aransas, Texas to weigh any fish or submit any videos, regardless of departure port.

  5. Fishing Starts Friday August 9th, 2024, at 12:00am and ends at 5:00pm August 10th, 2024 at the close of the weigh station. Stop fishing in time to make the 5 pm deadline if you boat or release a fish. Boats must be inside the Port Aransas Municipal Harbor Breakwater (not Port Aransas jetties) at 5 pm. Boats waiting in line to weigh fish inside the Port Aransas Harbor at 5 pm will be considered on time and able to weigh fish and submit videos

 

NO EXCEPTIONS

All times are GPS times (CDT=Coordinated Universal Time – 5)

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USE YOUR GPS FOR THE CORRECT TIME

  • Call Tournament Headquarters at 361-815-1612 or a Committee Boat immediately after boating or releasing an eligible billfish. Contacting Tournament Headquarters helps us keep our website up to date with the latest fishing results! It is not necessary to call in hook-ups, only release information or short length of any blue marlin boated. It is also not necessary to call in tuna, wahoo or dolphin. For released billfish, Tournament Headquarters or the Committee Boat will also record the time of your release. Be sure your information has been received. A list of committee boats and contact information will be included in your tournament bag. If no contact can be made have another tournament boat relay your information. Be sure to get that boat’s name and make sure they record the time.

  • All boats are required to have a video camera to verify release of billfish. NO EXCEPTIONS.

 

Jungle Rules

THERE ARE NO ANGLING RULES OTHER THAN THE FISH MUST BE CAUGHT ON A CONVENTIONAL ROD AND REEL AND BOATED BY HAND OR GAFF. ANYONE MAY HANDLE THE FISHING ROD. NO HARPOONS, SHOOTING, EXPLOSIVES, POISON, ELECTRIC REELS (OK FOR DREDGE USE ONLY) , ELECTRIC SHOCK, ENTANGLING DEVICES, NETS, LONGLINES OR OTHER NON-SPORTING DEVICES MAY BE USED.

  • Fish must be weighed in good condition. No frozen fish will be accepted! Remember to take plenty of ice and insulated fish bags.

  • Boats weighing fish will be responsible for those fish after weigh- in. This includes Blue Marlin.

  • A boat may fish as many lines as desired.

  • Participants are encouraged to follow all State and Federal Laws.

  • *REMINDER* FEDERAL LAW requires the use of non-offset circle hooks in billfish tournaments when using natural baits (dead or live) or natural baits in combination with lures or skirts.

  • FISHING IN MEXICAN WATERS NOT PERMITTED. The tournament has been informed by the United States Coast Guard in Port Isabel, TX, that it is against Federal Law to leave a Texas port, fish in Mexican waters and return to a Texas port. Therefore, fishing in Mexican waters which extend south from 26 degrees N Latitude is not permitted in this tournament.

  • WEATHER: Regardless of weather, the captain/owner of each vessel is responsible for decisions made regarding the safety of their vessel! In case of bad weather, the Tournament Committee may decide to postpone tournament and Sunday, August 11th may be used as a weather day. One day fishing constitutes the tournament. If the tournament is completely cancelled, all boat pools will be refunded and entry fees will be refunded less tournament expenses.

  • CONDUCT: The committee will consider unsportsmanlike conduct as grounds for disqualification. Contestants are responsible for their crew’s actions. Committee decisions are final.

  • PROTESTS: The only situation where a protest will be considered is in regards to a violation of the tournament rules. All protests must be substantial in nature, include documented evidence and must be submitted to the tournament director, in writing, before 7 PM August 10th, 2024. A $500 cash deposit must be included with the protest. Deposit returned only if protest is upheld. The Tournament Committee will resolve all disputes and their decision is FINAL.

  • POLYGRAPH: All participants (including captain, crew or guests) agree to submit to a polygraph test if requested by the Tournament Committee. Failure to submit to such an exam will result in the disqualification of the boat, at the discretion of the Tournament Committee. Any participant disqualified by the Tournament Committee for cheating, attempting to cheat or any other dishonest conduct may not be allowed to participate in future tournaments. Intentionally filling a fish with water or any other substance is considered cheating.

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Video Release Rules

  • All boats are required to have a video camera to verify release of billfish. Each boat is responsible for it’s own video equipment.

  • All boats will be required to present their video at Port Aransas Fisherman’s Wharf for the Video Review Committee to  verify.

  • All boats must be able to display their video on a monitor, laptop or other similar device when presenting their video for verification. The video review committee will have a monitor and laptop available at the tournament, however, it is the responsibility of the participant to provide everything needed to view their video!

  • Releases should be confirmed by nearby boats, if possible, and must be reported to Tournament Headquarters 361-815-1612 or a Committee Boat. If Tournament Headquarters or a Committee Boat cannot be reached, another tournament boat can verify the catch.

  • Only releases verified by video camera and verified by the video review committee earn points.

  • It’s a good idea to film with more than one camera in case of equipment failure.

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To obtain release points, a video must CLEARLY SHOW the following in CONTINUOUS UNEDITED VIDEO:

  1. Angler fighting the fish

  2. Object of the day.

  3. Clear Identification of species.

  4. Wireman with leader in hand.

  5. CATCH and RELEASE of the fish clearly showing at least one of the following events:

    • The fish swimming away following it’s release.

    • The hook being removed or the leader being cut.

    • The hook pulling free or leader breaking while leader is in hand

  6. The CORRECT TIME immediately following the release. The Video Camera TIME AND DATE STAMP is strongly preferred. The time on a digital time keeping device shown clearly in the video will be accepted (a smart phone/ IPad works great!).

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IMPORTANT! Please have your video ready to show in a timely manner for the Video Review Committee. Using  a CLEAN MEMORY CARD with no other data at the beginning of the tournament is a big help. It makes it much easier to find the video(s) to be reviewed. It is up to you to furnish everything needed to view your video. TIME and DATE stamp on the camera is preferred. Tablets such as an iPad take excellent video that is very easy to review and show TIME and DATE. It’s also a good idea to video with more than one device in case of equipment failure. Only releases verified by the video review committee earn points.
 

MORE IS BETTER! THE MORE VIDEO WE SEE, THE EASIER IT IS FOR US TO VERIFY YOU HAVE MET ALL OF THE VIDEO RELEASE REQUIREMENTS!

Rules
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Pictures
In 2023...

Over $300,000

15

63

Boats
Billfish
in winnings

Schedule

Wednesday Aug. 7th
  • 12-4pm Registration at fisherman's wharf
  • Captain's shrimp boil 
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Thursday Aug. 8th
  • 2-6pm final registration at grumbles seafood
  • 4:50pm blessing of the fleet, in person and VHF 68 radio
  • 5pm boats may depart after the blessing of the fleet and cannon signal release
  • 7pm registration closed
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Friday Aug. 9th
  • 12:01am fishing begins-use gps for correct time
  • weigh station on call- please call dee wallace 1 hour before arrival 361-815-1612
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Saturday Aug. 10th
  • Fishing Day
  • 2-6pm weigh station open
  • 5pm must be back inside port aransas little jetties
  • 6pm weigh station closed
  • 7pm cold beer and dinner at the fuel dock- fisherman's wharf/grumbles with music by cruise control
  • 9pm awards ceremony
  • 9pm final results will be posted online via txlegends.com and other social media sites. winners will be contacted directly by tournament committee
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Sunday Aug. 11th
  • 10am checks and bloody mary bar- grumbles seafood- invitation only
Schedule
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Sign Up

Register

FILL OUT AND COMPLETE THE ENTRY FORM.

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please make checks payable to Texas legends billfish tournament

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send in your entry form with your check included to

P.O. Box #3078 Port Aransas, TX 78373

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contact Capt. dee Wallace for any questions 361.815.1612

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final entry deadline is 7pm on Aug. 8th

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social security number or tax Id number will be required for tax purposes regarding winnings.

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Scoring

Scoring

POINT SYSTEM

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Blue Marlin Weighed-in (minimum 106″)

  • 1 point per pound

Blue Marlin Released

  • 500 Points​

White Marlin Released

  • 150 points

Sailfish Released

  • 100 points

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**BONUS POINTS**

Blue Marlin 600 lbs. and over.

  • 1 point per pound +900 Points

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Highest score determines the winner(s). The boat with the most points accrued by the earliest time of their last fish released (or blue marlin boated) wins.

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You have the choice to release or boat a blue marlin with a short length (Tip of Lower jaw to Fork in Tail) of 106″ or more.  Since you are rewarded with 500 points for releasing a blue marlin, it doesn’t make sense to boat one that you think will not weigh 500 lbs. If you decide to boat a blue marlin, the capture and boating should be recorded on video and the time the blue marlin is hauled on board should be recorded and reported to Tournament Headquarters or a Committee Boat.

 

If you catch a Blue Marlin that weighs over 600 lbs., the tournament rewards your accomplishment with a 900 point bonus in addition to the 1 point per pound scoring. This bonus reflects the skill and difficulty involved in boating a large blue marlin vs. releasing any size blue marlin.

 

If for some reason the points and release times between boats are identical, the boat with the most blue marlin wins.

 

On all weighed fish, in the case of a tie, length prevails.

pools

MANDATORY BILLFISH, OPTIONAL BILLFISH & OPTIONAL BLUE MARLIN POOLS

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A Special Word about the Blue Marlin (Only) Pools!

The Blue Marlin Pools are for Blue Marlin weighed or released, just like the Billfish Pools. The Blue Marlin Pools are for Blue Marlin only and are for those participants strictly interested in fishing for Blue Marlin.

 

The Billfish Pools include points for Blue Marlin weighed or released, White Marlin released and Sailfish released.

 

The Tournament Places are based on the $1,000 Mandatory Billfish Pool which all participants are required to enter.

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The Billfish and Blue Marlin Pools use an aggregate point system with release points and weighed points and will pay up to 4 places.

The boat with the most points wins.

 

The Optional Boat Pools are exactly that, Optional, and are not required or included in the base entry fee. Entry into the Optional Pools is not required to be eligible for the Tournament Awards. Payout on all Boat Pools is 90%. 10% administrative cost deducted.

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Optional Fish Pools

Pays Two Places – The Two Heaviest Fish in each pool win!

1st Place – 65% / 2nd Place – 35%
A Boat may win more than one place. minimum weight for 2022 – 20 lbs.

(20 lb. Minimum weight (Federal minimums apply also!)

Awards

*Includes all Participants

 

Tournament Champion will have the boat’s name engraved on the perpetual Bob Byrd Memorial Trophy and will receive the Championship Trophy and the Tournament Champion Flag.

 

 

Top Four Places receive trophies

  • Top Captain receives the Capt. Bill Hart Memorial Trophy

  • Top Mate receives the Stewart Campbell Memorial Trophy

  • The angler weighing the largest fish in the tournament receives the Alfred Glassell Memorial Trophy

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CASH PRIZES *INCLUDES ALL PARTICIPANTS

  • $2,000 to the boat releasing the largest blue marlin!*

  • $1,000 to the boat releasing the first blue marlin!*

  • $1,000 to the boat releasing the most billfish!*

*The Largest Blue Marlin Released will be determined by the Tournament Committee reviewing video footage. All participants are eligible for this prize. Participants should be aware that these are judgment calls and the committee’s decision is final, no protests will be accepted. If you have a large fish, please take your time and get plenty of good video footage. It is difficult to determine the exact measurement of a live fish on a moving boat in the open ocean. For the Most Billfish Released prize, in case of a tie, tournament scoring rules apply.

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FISH POOL AWARDS

The largest fish of each species wins a trophy.
You must be entered in an optional fish pool to receive the largest fish trophy of that species.

  • THE LARGEST YELLOWFIN TUNA

  • THE LARGEST WAHOO

  • THE LARGEST DOLPHINFISH

BROKER'S CHALLENGE

Broker Challenge Fox Yachts (FYS) and Galati Yachts(GYS) have each contributed $2500 to bring a new award to the Legends BiIlfish Tournament this year . All boats brokered by FYS or GYS are eligible to enter. FYS and GYS have contributed a total of $5000 to start the winner take all cash prize pot for all who enter the challenge. To enter the challenge, you must qualify as follows:

1. The boat must have been brokered by FYS or GYS.

2. Broker Challenge entry fee of $2500 paid in full by 7pm when registration closes Aug.8.

3.Winner of the Legends tournament could also win this challenge, but their vessel must have been brokered by FYS or GYS so it is possible the winner of the Legends tournament and the Broker Challenge are two different vessels.

4. Winner of the Broker‘s Challenge wiIl be determined by the vessel accumulating the most overall tournament points.

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Sponsors

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Want to become a sponsor? Please email amy@pafwllc.com for more information.

Sponsors
Ocean

2023 results

Fish Pools
Largest Tuna 

  • mine time

  • 40.9lbs

Largest Wahoo

  • la belle

  • 36lbs

Largest Dorado

  • blue rush

  • 21.5lbs

Tournament Champions- rebecca
2nd Place- doulos
3rd Place- instigator
4th Place- sashimi
5th Place- backlash
6th Place- minetime
7th Place- el patron
8th Place- big trouble
9th Place- see-mah
10th Place- blue rush

 

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2021 Results

About

We dedicate this tournament to Texas fisherman, and we consider it a privilege to celebrate the lives of those who have excelled in saltwater fishing. Please take time to remember some of our old friends on the Texas Big Game Fisherman's Roll Call- a tribute to those who have passed on in our sport.

Our tournament is unique in that once you are registered in the tournament you may leave from any Texas port. We have pioneered the concept of a video release format with points awarded for Blue Marlin, White Marlin, and Sailfish. The Port Aransas weigh-in and awards allows fisherman easy access to the natural offshore structure and deep-water rigs that this area is famous for. 

Join us this year as we honor old friends, catch some great fish and celebrate our big game fishing heritage...

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Tournament Crew

Founder
Capt. John Cochrane 

Tournament Director
Capt. Dee Wallace

Event Coordinator and Sponsorships

amy Laurrell

Tournament Chairman
Will Cocke

Tournament Committee

Hefner Appling
David Cochrane
Kevin Deerman 
Kirk Elliot
Chris Fox
Dee Wallace 
Brantley Gwin
Carter Drummond

Tournament Staff

Ann Marie Cochrane
Katy Cochrane
David Cochrane
Robyn Krenek
Jo Ellen Krueger
Mandy Yeager
Alexa Thurwalker
Riley gano
Michelle Kellman
amy laurrell

Official artist: Larry Rackley

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About/ Pictures
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